National Republican., 1887-01-18
Gov. Gordon and Convict Labor.

Inc NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, recently
copied and commented on an article on the
Convict system Of Georgia contributed to
the Forum by the wife Of an ex.congress.
man from that state. The article repre-
sented Gov. Gordon as having a pecunary
interest In one or more convict labor con-
tracts. IL is the intention Of the manage
ment Of this paper to be fair toward all
persons for two good reasons: First, be-
cause fairness is right; second, because IL Is
polite. Being satisfied from evidence sub
mitted to our consideration that Gov. Cor
don is not convict labor contractor, and
that he is not beneficiary Of any such
contract, we desire to correct any misap-
prehension that may have arisen from the
publication Of the Forum extract.
While doing this act Of justice to Gen.
Gordon we do hot abate one iota from any
thing we have uttered in denunciatlon Of
the penal system Of his state. It is dis
grace to Georgia, reproach TO our civili-
zation, a national shame, and local infamy.
In communication to the Georgia legis-
lature Gov. Gordon names these objections
to the present lease system:
1t places pecunary interests in conflict with
humanity,
1t makes possible the inactlon of greater
punishment than the law and the courts have
imposed.
II renders impracticable the proper care by
the state of the health Of Its prisoners, or their
requisite separation according to classes, sexes
and conditions
1t reduces to the minimum the chances for
reformation.
II places convict labor In many instances in
| direct competition with the honest labor OF the
| state.
These, briefly stated. are some of the objcc-
tions urged against the present system. 1t will
| be generally admitted that they are of so grave
character that the state will not be justified
in continuing the system, provided 1t can be
changed legally and without the violation OF
good faith and provided also that better
system should be practicable.
The governor then suggests the establish
ment of prison farms. He says;
II the legislature shall authorize the governor
to act in the premises shall hope to secure for
| the state a sufficient number of these prisoners
to supply one such farm. Such limited expert.
ment could not involve the state in much loss,
and, If unsatisfactory, could be abandoned aud
changed by the legislature which will meet
two years hence. If the result should prove
satisfactory additional farms might be es.ao.
lished in different sections of the state.
The advantages Of the prison farm plan
as stated by the governor, are that
1t would at once eliminate from our peniten.
tisry system the serious objections to the old
plan Of close confinement, and the equally
grave objections to the present plan OF leasing.
It would confine the conyicts thus employed
TO such labor as would least compete with the
honest labor ofthe state.
1t would place the state in direct and full
control of its prisoners
1t would restore to the state the full power TO
enforce the exact punishment imposed by the
courts.
1t would place upon the state the just re-
sponsibility for guarding the health OF the
convicts, and would confne them to the mos,
healthful employments.
1t would enable the state to separate them al
all times according to classes, conditions,
sexes, and fitness for different kinds of labor
and 10 institute methods for reformation with
greater promise of success.
II would make such portion Of the penten-
tentiary at least self sustaining, / think, and
with proper management, might cause 1t tc
yield larger net revenue, per capita than
that now derived from leasing.
1t appears, however, that under an act Of
the Georgia legislature, all the convicts il
the state are leased for twenty years from
1876, or until 1896 1t is bad business al
round, and the outlook is not hopeful.